Top 10 Christmas TV specials of 2012: From Call The Midwife to The Royle Family

Once again, the viewing public is set to be treated to a veritable smorgasbord of televisual goodies this Christmas, as festive versions of all our favourite TV shows are lined up to bring us merriment and goodwill. Here’s our pick of the best…

10. Friday Night Dinner – Monday, December 24 at 10.30 on Channel 4

Because no one does Christmas better than the Jews, apparently. Described as a ‘small-scale affair’, the Goodmans’ Christmas gathering takes place – much like everyone else’s – during the day. This means that what is usually a Friday night dinner becomes Tuesday lunch. Still, we’re sure it will work just as well as it normally does…

Among the names taking part in 2012 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special are Fabrice Muamba, Sheila Hancock and Rachel Stevens. A wonderfully eclectic mix, you’ll agree. But whether or not we’ll all have had enough of the ballroom dancing show by the time Christmas Day rolls around – just three days after the main series’ final – remains to be seen.

Fabrice Muamba and Kelly Brook are among those taking part in the Strictly Christmas special (Picture: BBC)

8. Celebrity Juice – Thursday, December 13 at 10pm on ITV2

Keith Lemon (who, lest we forget, is a man called Leigh Francis playing a man called Keith Lemon) plays Ebeneezer Scrooge in this year’s festive special, with Fearne Cotton as a maid and Holly Willoughby in the role she was born to play: a chimney sweep. It won’t be highbrow, but it’ll be fun.

This year, as with every year, someone is going to die at Christmas time in Albert Square. If you’ve been paying attention this year, you’ll know who it is already. And if you’ve ever watched an episode of EastEnders, you’ll also know roughly how they will die. There are only really three options: 1. Dramatic shootout 2. Human fireball 3. Clobbered with iron. Still, probably worth tuning into, no?

Another fun Branning family Christmas on EastEnders? (Picture: BBC)

6. Downton Abbey – Tuesday, December 25 at 8.45pm on ITV1

Nothing lends itself to the hype and histrionics of Downton Abbey quite like Christmas. Last year, the Crawley clan were recovering from the death of Lavinia, but show bosses still managed to cobble together a relatively heartwarming and dare I say uplifting festive episode. This year, we’ve been promised new romances, new scandals and a new housemaid, all of which is sure to make it the perfect thing to have on while you’re digesting the turkey.

Downton returns for another festive special on Christmas Day (Picture: ITV)

5. Miranda – Wednesday, December 26 at 9pm on BBC ONE

Oh look – it’s that nice tall lady falling over repeatedly. But this time at Christmas! Miranda fans have been waiting over two years for the third series of the popular BBC sitcom and will be positively beside themselves with glee when Ms Hart bumbles back onto our screens on Boxing Day. Plot details are being kept tightly under wraps, but our sources say there will be a pratfall or two along the way…

Miranda may or may not fall over in this year’s Christmas special (Picture: BBC)

4. Doctor Who – Tuesday, December 25 at 5.15pm on BBC ONE

Something for the boys (and female appreciaters of pretty faces, too) this year, as Jenna-Louise Coleman returns to Doctor Who to properly kick off her stint on the show. The 2012 Christmas special is called The Snowmen and anyone who’s seen the promotional pictures of the titular half-hilarious-half-actually-quite-menacing-looking snow creatures will known that Doctor Who fans are in for a festive treat of epic proportions.

Jenna-Louise Coleman will feature in the Doctor Who Christmas special (Picture: BBC)

3. The Snowman And The Snowdog – Monday, December 24 at 8pm on Channel 4

Incredibly, it’s been 30 years since The Snowman first floated onto our screens and delighted/devastated generations of young children with its tale of friendship and untimely death. To celebrate the anniversary, the team behind the original story has conjured up a new version, complete with the traditional animation techniques used in the first Snowman story.

Walking in the air: The Snowman And The Snowdog (Picture: Channel 4)

2. Call The Midwife – Tuesday, December 25 at 7.30pm on BBC ONE

It’s that nice tall lady again! But this time she’s delivering babies! How festive. Miranda Hart will be returning with Jessica Raine and co. for a Christmassy episode of the phenomenal success story that is Call The Midwife. Rumours abound that the programme will include grislier-than-ever scenes of placenta and suchlike, but it’s not on until the evening, so hopefully your Christmas lunch will have gone down by then.

Call The Midwife will return for a second series (Picture: BBC)

1. The Royle Family – Tuesday, December 25 at 9.45pm on BBC ONE

Details about the hotly anticipated return of the Royles are thin on the ground, but what we do know is that Jim is driven insane and Barbara spends two hours doing her Christmas shopping in Poundland. That gives enough away that we can be sure fans of The Royle Family are going to be more than satisfied with this year’s offering.

The Royle Family is finally back on our screens this year (Picture: BBC)